smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Going the extra mile

Going that extra mile and selling harder doesn’t necessarily mean...
Have your say »

RSS

Female entrepreneurs value on-going support

Dec 13 2007

Email a friend

Ongoing support is required to encourage women to start and grow their own business, according to women's support association Prowess.

Female entrepreneurs particularly value 'an ongoing supportive relationship approach rather than one-off business support intervention'.

'They also welcome mentoring relationships and the chance to exchange ideas with someone with previous experience of setting up in business,' says Alice Kent, a researcher for Prowess.

Kent also claims that while women view starting a business as a viable career option, they are still under-represented in the SME sector, with men twice as likely to start a business as women.

The gender enterprise gap is more acute among those aged between 18 and 24 with women four times less likely to start a business than men, she states.

According to data from the Labour Force Survey 2003, a quarter of the UK's 3.2 million self-employed workers are women.

The figures also show that female entrepreneurs make up 6.8 per cent of the UK's working population.

Comments

There are currently no comments on this article

Prize Draw

Smallbusiness.co.uk has teamed up with Avery® Quick&Clean™ Business Cards to offer five lucky readers the chance to win a copy of BBC Dragons' Den James Caan's new book The Real Deal and a pack of Avery® premium heavyweight business cards. To enter the prize draw, simply answer our question here

Polls

Latest News

Small businesses 'hit with VAT burden'

Small firms will be especially burdened with administration costs from the reduction in value-added tax (VAT), according to the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

Sales figures predict lean Christmas

Christmas this year could be harsh for small retailers, after figures from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) show sharp falls in high street sales.

Trade credit insurance hurting retailers

Retailers being refused trade credit insurance is leading to problems in the industry, especially for small to medium-sized businesses, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) warns.

Dragons' Den 'dumbs down business'

Small firms feel shows like Dragons' Den and The Apprentice dumb down the public perception of businesspeople.

Small companies should monitor net usage

Small firms need to introduce policies on personal internet usage at work as almost a third have no limitation at all.

Government to review procurement

A review into the public sector contract procurement process has been welcomed by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which hopes it will lead to a fairer deal for firms.

'Invest in IT' to boost business

Small firms need to encourage more flexible working practices and invest in IT skills to increase productivity.

Companies 'should focus on staff skills'

The current climate makes it more critical for businesses to invest in developing people and increasing their skills.

Proposals for SMEs not effective, says BCC

David Kern, chief economist at the British Chamber of Commerce, has criticised Alistair Darling’s Pre-Budget proposals for SMEs.

Tax rise put on hold

The planned one percentage point rise in corporation tax has been put on hold in an attempt to boost small businesses.

VAT cuts 'will not help small firms'

A reduction in value added tax (VAT) of 25 pence in the pound will not help small businesses and many may not pass it on, say some entrepreneurs.

Guides & Tips

Redundancy is not the only option

Many SMEs will have to control staffing costs over the coming months. Smallbusiness.co.uk has teamed up with Simon Kite, a partner at chartered accountants Saffery Champness, to offer some tips on how to cut costs and avoid the redundancy route

What benefits do staff want?

 Oval Financial Services’ Debby Hannaford explores how focus groups and surveys can be used to gain constructive and positive feedback about employee benefits packages

Automated hacking

What do the Sony Playstation game ‘SingStar Pop’ and the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) have in common?

Don't Miss

Sweet success: Charlotte and Lynne Fudge

After finishing her degree Charlotte Fudge started mail order biscuits company Biccies with her mum last year. The company recently became profitable and has a turnover of £75,000.

Don't let age be a barrier

Margaret Wood started her engineering company ICW UK, which makes high-tech windows and windscreens, at the age of 46. Based in Yorkshire the 61-year-old entrepreneur received a Women Inventors in Industry award in 2003. Her company has a turnover of £400,000

Hosting in a recession

As the global economy staggers from crisis to crisis small businesses face the dilemma of having to control costs while also ensuring they remain competitive.

Store

FT Guide to Personal Tax

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Tax Guide, the FT Guide to Personal Tax is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and Jonquil Lowe, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as 100 tax-saving tips.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Small Business Guide, the FT Guide to Business Start Up is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc, this unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.